prenatal testing

Should prenatal testing be routine for all pregnant women?

I was supprised to see my views on this blog question presented in one of our supplemental required readings. The Bad Baby Blues by Lisa Blumberg is a well worded response.

I have a serious problem with the practice of leading women towards prenatal testing when they may have no specific reason to do so. Ms. Blumberg made a clear argument that I agree with wholeheartedly. This kind of thing is a precursor to a euthanasia mindset. I would take her view further and say that if we as a society begin to routinely test for disabilities and councel mothers towards termination, what makes us different in heart from Hitler?
Yes, we can claim that our intention is to prevent suffering, but what of those with disabilities who have led full lives? What of those who cannot support themselves but everyone around them praises them for their kindness and gentleness of heart? I have several friends who have children with disabilities or learning differences. The testimony they give of how these kids have added to their families and challenged them to grow as individuals is astounding and flies in the face of those arguments for avoiding suffering. Where do we draw the line?
I do not have a personal problem with testing that is not invasive for the purpose of determining correctable issues like Rh factor problems. Some problems can be detected and corrected pre-birth. I have seen (on tv of course) a surgery where the tiny infant was removed from the womb, surgery was performed to correct a major problem from which the child would have otherwise died, and the child was placed back inside the womb to finish gestation. Wow.
I agree with the article where it specified specific reasons for testing. This option should be avaliable to women who feel it necessary. Their decisions are their own, though I do not agree with termination, they could at the very least prepare themselves for what is to come.
I suppose my personal stance is that preventative, non invasive tests should be routine but optional. Invasive testing should always be optional even where the family has a history of certain problems. These choices are not for doctors or society to make.
I fear this technology taken to its fullest potential. While many advances have their benefits, the way we take the advances can get ugly. Anybody ever seen the movie, Gattaca?

contraception

I was going to do a handout on Natural Family Planning for Assignment 4 but some family situations came up this week and seriously delayed my homework process. But here's some personal info anyway.

My husband and I use Natural Family Planning and condoms during the fertile time. I just wanted to add some info that some may not be aware of. This method is presented in the book as Fertility Awareness methods. Calendar method, basal body temperature, and cervical mucos method. In Natural Family Planning, these three are combined along with additional information regarding cervical positioning and it's reflection on fertility. The methods listed by themselves are more likely to fail. HOWEVER, when you combine all of the methods, which Natural Family Planning does, you have a very low failure rate.

We have practiced this method for 9 years. YES! we do have 3 children. But having planned for 4 we are actually right on track. I agree that this method of birth control is not for everyone. In general, those who use this method are those couples who are more open to unplanned pregnancies. Advance planning and self control is involved which isn't very popular.

In our case, with our first one, we knew we were in the "danger zone". With our second one, we threw caution to the wind. With our third, we had a condom failure. With all the other months of our marriage that we weren't pregnant or in breastfeeding amenorrhea we have sucessfully postponed pregnancy. Our children are 22 months and 35 months apart. We certainly were not "pumping them out uncontrollably". After we reach capacity, we plan for my husband to have a vasectomy.

The charting of information and checking the fertility signals really becomes second nature after a short time. I have the benefit of knowing why I cramp in the middle of the month (with ovulation) I know why my hormones are crazy before my period, I know my body well and the reasons it does what it does. While this method is not for everyone and definately not for protecting against STI's, I believe all women should understand their bodies in this way.

blog #4

I remember menarche for me being a generally positive experience.
There was the horror at starting my period while at church camp in Florida. We stayed in a hotel on the beach with daily free time in the hotel pool and in the ocean. I was glad that my mom was there as a camp counsellor. She reacted with calm and encouragement that made it less horrible for me. I was also rooming with a dear friend who helped me figure out tampons.
The horror was not shame related but more in relation to the unknown and lack of experience. I knew enough to know that it would happen, but since my mom had a hysterectomy shortly after I was born, I had no memory of seeing her deal with menses or really talking about it much.
I remember my mom telling me that I was becoming a woman and I remember her support and love. I had forgotten this... thanks for the opportunity to remember.